Text: 2 Kings 2:1-25
The ministry of Elijah is coming to an end, and Elisha will become the spiritual leader for Israel. When the time came to transfer leadership, something very spectacular happened – Elijah did not die, in the usual sense of the word. As Elijah and Elisha were moving from town to town God sent His chariot and horses of fire to the earth. Elijah stepped on the chariot, and he was taken up in a mighty wind. As Elijah departed, he dropped his cloak, and Elisha took it, a symbol that Elijah’s spiritual power had been transferred. Why did Elijah not die as humans always do? Why this miraculous event? The passage does not explain; but we get a clue in Malachi 4:5-6, the last two verses of the Old Testament. It is there that
we read of Elijah returning to prepare God’s people for the arrival of Messiah.
As Elijah brought the people to repentance in 1 King 18:39 , so would he, once more, prior to God’s anointed Saviour. Jesus said that John the Baptizer was Elijah, spiritually speaking (Mat.17:10-13) , and John prepared the way (Mal.3:1) for Jesus, who will save His people from their sins.
Meditate on verse 9. How are you going to apply it to your life?
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I am able to witness for You through words and actions. Amen.